But the students who stayed behind to weather Hurricane Irma are getting the education of a lifetime.

“I told our students they’d be better men and women by Monday,” University President Jim Towey said Wednesday.

The students and staff of the university, which was largely spared from hurricane damage, have been volunteering in droves to lend a hand in Immokalee, the nearby farming community which was not so fortunate.

On Wednesday, students filled van after van with water, sandwiches, fruit and bread and drove into Immokalee.

Some went to the soup kitchen operated by Guadalupe Social Services, but others drove straight into neighborhoods where residents are just returning from shelters to find spoiled food, flooded streets and few stores open.

Students and staff from Ave Maria University pass out food and water to residents of Immokalee on Wednesday.(Photo: Brent Batten)

Maria Binuelo, an Immokalee native who is the university’s catering manager, went up and down the street telling residents there was free food and water to be had. Within minutes, the students were busy filling up bags and handing them out.

At a collection of tiny homes across Immokalee Road from the Seminole Casino, Yvelise Olibas said the food from Ave Maria was the first she’s had since Monday when she came back from a shelter. “No stores are open,” she said. And at the ones that were, “Somebody was trying to charge us $5 for a bag of ice. That’s illegal.”

U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio visited Ave Maria together Wednesday afternoon to thank the students and staff and to let them know the world is watching.

The university, while it has power, is getting spotty Internet access.

“We have been telling your story over and over to the national media. You all have been in blackout, so you don’t know that,” Nelson said.

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Linda and Dave Stroshein hold hands as they walk through a flooded Citrus Park to see their house for the first time in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, three days after Hurricane Irma. Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News

Dave Stroshein unloads meat from his freezer to take with him before it goes bad at his home in Citrus Park in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, three days after Hurricane Irma. Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News

Dave Stroshein helps his wife Linda through the flood water and debris at Citrus Park in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, three days after Hurricane Irma. The Stroshein's came back to check on their home for the first time since the storm, which was luckily still standing. Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News

Linda and Dave Stroshein hold hands as they walk through a flooded Citrus Park to see their house for the first time since Hurricane Irma in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News

Ralph and Lana Gruver walk through their neighbor's yard to get to their house at Citrus Park in Bonita Springs on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, three days after Hurricane Irma. The knee-high flood waters on their street made it impassable by car. Nicole Raucheisen/Naples Daily News

Nelson has been relating a slightly skewed story out of Ave Maria, but it makes a point.

In Nelson’s version, a group of nursing home patients in Immokalee were abandoned by the home’s staff and rescued by sheriff’s deputies who brought them to Ave Maria for shelter.

The Sheriff’s Office version clarifies that the seniors were not at a nursing home, but rather at a 55-and-older apartment complex called Bromelia Place. There’s no staff there charged with looking after the residents.

Some of the residents did have caregivers who didn’t stick around for the storm, leaving the residents to fend for themselves.

“They were kind of in the dark as far as what was happening,” said sheriff’s spokeswoman Karie Partington. “They were wanting shelter. Fortunately, our deputies came across them, and we were able to get them to safety.”

Extensive damage can be seen at Stan's Idle Hour Restaurant Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, after Hurricane Irma passed over in the small coastal community of Goodland. Rodney White, Michael Zamora/The Des Moines Register

Homes are turned into islands Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, near Lehigh High School two days after Hurricane Irma passed through the Lehigh Acres area outside Fort Myers. Rodney White, Michael Zamora/The Des Moines Register

Large vehicles make their way through flooded streets Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, near Lehigh High School two days after Hurricane Irma passed through the Lehigh Acres area outside Fort Myers. Rodney White, Michael Zamora/The Des Moines Register

Towey said that when the Sheriff’s Office called Friday, he was happy to have the residents join about 450 other people, including students, staff, families and first responders who sheltered at the campus.

Michelle Zettel, a senior majoring in nursing, was one of the students who helped the 10 Bromelia Place residents once they arrived on campus. There was a profound language gap, but they managed to sort out their medications and special needs.

“One knew a little English. The rest knew no English at all,” she said.

“It was a great experience. We’re glad we were able to help them,” she said.

“You definitely get some clinical hours,” Rubio quipped upon hearing the story.

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Ramon and Anieoka Almarez, along with their daughter Bella, 5, check on their home which had been caked in a thick layer of mud due to storm surge from Hurricane Irma. "We don't know where we're gonna go right now," Mrs. Almarez said. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Kalen Kivodeaux, 16, left, and his brother Ivan, 13, clear debris from outside their grandmother Lisa Daniels front yard as residents begin to assess and repair damage from Hurricane Irma to their homes Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Engineers asses damage done to the bridge connecting Everglades City, Fla. and the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. early Tuesday, September 12, 2017. The bridge was closed to residents until the afternoon Tuesday. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Lisa Daniels quickly scans through her home on the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. that had been covered in a thick layer of mud by a foot or more of storm surge from Hurricane Irma Tuesday, September 12, 2017. "It's overwhelming. I just don't know where to start," Daniels said. "I got to get help from FEMA." Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Lisa Daniels quickly scans through her home on the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. that had been covered in a thick layer of mud by a foot or more of storm surge from Hurricane Irma Tuesday, September 12, 2017. "It's overwhelming. I just don't know where to start," Daniels said. "I got to get help from FEMA." Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Lisa Daniels quickly scans through her home on the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. that had been covered in a thick layer of mud by a foot or more of storm surge from Hurricane Irma Tuesday, September 12, 2017. "It's overwhelming. I just don't know where to start," Daniels said. "I got to get help from FEMA." Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Bella Almarez, 5, outside her family's home that backs up to a canal Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in Chokoloskee, Fla. The Almarez's, a family of five, rode out the storm at a hotel in Georgia but returned to an unlivable home. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Ramon Almarez, center, along with his wife Aneioka and their daughter Bella, 5, not shown, check on their home which had been caked in a thick layer of mud due to storm surge from Hurricane Irma. "We don't know where we're gonna go right now," Mrs. Almarez said. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Ramon and Anieoka Almarez, along with their daughter Bella, 5, not shown, bag clothes to save and take with them as they plan to stay the night at a family members in Everglades City Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in Chokoloskee, Fla. "We don't know where we're gonna go right now," Mrs. Almarez said. The Almarez's home had been ruined by Hurricane Irma. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Dwain Daniels, 81, sits inside his home after a long day of ripping up soaked carpets and other damage from Hurricane Irma Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in Chokoloskee, Fla. Daniels, along with his son Shane rode the storm out inside the home. "We lived through Donna, Wilma, and Andrew." Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Dwain Daniels, 81, sits inside his home after a long day of ripping up soaked carpets and other damage from Hurricane Irma Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in Chokoloskee, Fla. Daniels, along with his son Shane rode the storm out inside the home. "We lived through Donna, Wilma, and Andrew." Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Lynn McMillin, Director of the Ted Smallwood Store, points out the minimal damage inflicted on the building from Hurricane Irma Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in Chokoloskee, Fla. The building, built in 1906, has been tested for over one-hundred years and has stood the test of time. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Lynn McMillin, Director of the Ted Smallwood Store, points out the minimal damage inflicted on the building from Hurricane Irma Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in Chokoloskee, Fla. The building, built in 1906, has been tested for over one-hundred years and has stood the test of time. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Lynn McMillin, Director of the Ted Smallwood Store, points out the minimal damage inflicted on the building from Hurricane Irma Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in Chokoloskee, Fla. The building, built in 1906, has been tested for over one-hundred years and has stood the test of time. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

A helicopter with the United States Navy flies over Chokoloskee, Fla. to assess damage as residents begin to repair damage done to their homes Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Supplies, courtesy of the American Red Cross, are distributed by the National Guard at Fire Station 60 in Everglades City, Fla. in the late afternoon Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Ivan Kivodeaux, 13, washes his hands after clearing debris from outside his grandmother Lisa Daniels' front yard Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Residents begin to assess and repair damage done to their homes and surrounding properties Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Residents begin to assess and repair damage done to their homes and surrounding properties Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Residents begin to assess and repair damage done to their homes and surrounding properties Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Residents begin to assess and repair damage done to their homes and surrounding properties Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Residents begin to assess and repair damage done to their homes and surrounding properties Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Residents begin to assess and repair damage done to their homes and surrounding properties Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Residents begin to assess and repair damage done to their homes and surrounding properties Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Brandon Pervis, 12, pokes at a crab along the shoreline on his grandmother's rental property Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Residents begin to assess and repair damage done to their homes and surrounding properties Tuesday, September 12, 2017 in the small island community of Chokoloskee, Fla. just south of Everglades City. Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

A cart sits in the parking lot amidst the debris at the Lowe's on US 41 and Collier Boulevard on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, two days after Hurricane Irma. Lowe's opened at 6 a.m., letting in 10 customers at a time. A line started to form when the store opened with customers specifically waiting for a shipment of generators. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Stephanie Ernhart, human resources manager for Lowe's, updates the customers in line for a generator at the Lowe's on US 41 and Collier Boulevard on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, two days after Hurricane Irma. Customers started to line up at 6 a.m. specifically to purchase a generator. They were given tickets to hold their place in line. At noon, the shipment still hadn't arrived. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

A temporary security guard hands out numbers to the customers entering the Lowe's on US 41 and Collier Boulevard on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, two days after Hurricane Irma. Employees let customers in, 30 at a time, to make general purchases. There was a separate line for customers waiting for generators. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Stephanie Earnhart, human resources manager for Lowe's, hugs an employee at the Lowe's on US 41 and Collier Boulevard on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, two days after Hurricane Irma. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Lonnie Stuber, left, and Sharon Holley fill gas tanks at the Shell station on White Lake Boulevard, just off of Collier Boulevard north of i-75 on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, two days after Hurricane Irma. After waiting for an hour, the two filled gas tanks for their neighbors who have generators at home, but no way to get to a gas station. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

The line at the Shell station on White Lake Boulevard, just off of Collier Boulevard north of i-75, snakes down Collier Boulevard and around City Gate Road on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, two days after Hurricane Irma. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Derek Delgado, left, pumps gas into his car at the Shell station on White Lake Boulevard, just off of Collier Boulevard north of i-75, on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, two days after Hurricane Irma. Delgado works at the CubeSmart on White Lake and saw the line forming outside of his office. He waited in line for an hour and a half. Katie Klann/Naples Daily News

Brian Couch, the university’s vice president for advancement, said he was moved when the apartment complex women went to an impromptu Saturday mass at the dormitory they were in their Sunday best clothing. “They had brought everything they own with them,” Couch said.

Student government President Stephen Akers said seeing his classmates step up in a crisis doesn’t surprise him. “We really believe in the mission of our university,” he said. “I don’t think anyone considers what they’re doing heroic. It’s just the right thing to do.”

Rubio agreed with Towey that these days when no classes are in session may be the most instructive of the young students’ lives.

“I think your students have learned more in 72 hours than they can ever learn in a classroom,” he said.